CUBS' LYNCH COMES OUT FIRING

One thing is certain: New Cubs General Manager Ed Lynch is a man of action.

Lynch was at his desk less than three hours Monday when he announced his first two major personnel decisions-one widely expected and one shrouded in a bit of mystery.

The expected move came with the announcement that Lynch had chosen not to offer a new contract to Tom Trebelhorn, who led the Cubs to a last-place finish in his first season as manager.

Lynch also announced he was beginning the search for a new manager and that was where something of a surprise emerged. He said he planned to interview several candidates, raising the possibility he might seriously be considering a candidate other than third-base coach Tony Muser.

Muser has been widely presumed to be the heir apparent, largely because Lynch once tried to hire Muser. That was when Lynch was running the San Diego farm system. The job he offered Muser was manager of the Padres' Triple-A team.

"I plan to interview Tony Muser. He is high on my list," said Lynch.

Sources said Muser would be interviewed in Chicago on Thursday.

The mere fact Lynch planned to interview other candidates could be an important signal based on the early track record of the new Cubs' regime. After all, President and CEO Andy MacPhail didn't feel compelled to conduct an elaborate interview process when he hired Lynch. He said he knew Lynch was his man and didn't want to lead-on anyone else.

The manager's job is different, of course, but Lynch may have dropped another hint when he talked about why he moved so quickly to release Trebelhorn.

"This is not an easy thing to do. I just thought it was best for the organization to do it now-to put that behind us and move forward," said Lynch, who flew in from New York and moved into his Wrigley Field office at noon Monday.

"I'm a first-time general manager. I want to put somebody in place that I've worked with and probably somebody I feel a little more comfortable with."

Whether it's Muser or someone else, the new manager might not want to make many long-term plans for Chicago, if recent tradition is a guide. With the firing of Trebelhorn, the Cubs now have gone through 11 managers since Lee Elia was hired in 1982. Only Don Zimmer (1988-91) made it to four straight spring trainings with the team.

Muser and Lynch have never worked together. That, and the fact that the job Lynch once offered Muser was in the minors, not the big leagues, might indicate another candidate is emerging.

Jim Riggleman would be a logical choice. He managed San Diego's Triple-A team in 1991 and '92 when Lynch ran the Padres farm system. It was Riggleman's promotion to the majors at the end of the 1992 season that opened the Triple-A job Lynch offered Muser.

Another strong candidate, lesser-known but perhaps even more promising, is Riggleman's third-base coach Bruce Bochy. He managed two San Diego farm teams to titles in 1991 and '92-two years he worked under Lynch.

Both Riggleman, 42, and Bochy, 39, are under contract with the Padres until Nov. 1. Lynch would need permission to speak with either one. He said late Monday he had not yet asked permission to speak to anyone, but he refused to rule out that possibility.

Lynch did say he thought it was essential the Cubs hire a manager who knows the National League. Beyond that he refused to discuss the managerial situation except to say a decision would be made fairly quickly.

"We are hoping to have organizational meetings some time in early November and we'd like to have everybody in place by then," said Lynch.

Muser, contacted at his home in California, seemed surprised the Cubs were conducting a full interview process. But his immediate reaction was concern for Trebelhorn.

"I feel bad," he said. "I worked under him in Milwaukee. I worked under him in Chicago. He's got a lot of great attributes. I think it's a situation here in Chicago where the circumstances never gave him a chance."

Efforts to reach Trebelhorn were not successful.

Muser was in contention for the manager's job in Kansas City, but lost out to Bob Boone. It was the sixth time Muser has been interviewed for a major-league managing spot and failed to get it.

The Rangers are searching for a new manager and Muser's name has been mentioned in the Texas media. But Muser said Monday he hasn't been contacted by anyone in the Texas organization.